Jeremy Affeldt's activation from the disabled list Friday is on track after he felt nothing in his right oblique after facing hitters Wednesday. Barring another reliever's injury, the Giants will face a tough call when Affeldt and Jose Mijares (bereavement list) are back.

The 30-year-old right-hander has minor-league options, but do the Giants want to demote a pitcher who had not allowed a run through Tuesday? Who showed he could pitch three innings effectively, as he did in San Diego, or one inning late in a tied game, as he did in Arizona?

The Giants could keep all the pitchers, demote a position player (Hector Sanchez?) and carry an eight-man bullpen, but that would hamstring the bench.

Machi is another in a long line of journeyman minor-leaguers who helped the Giants after they plucked them from obscurity. Affeldt said he and some teammates discussed that on the bench as they watched Machi pitch.

"We were trying to figure out who knew Machi really well," Affeldt said. "I don't understand how this kid, who throws in the mid-90s and has such a good split-finger, wasn't pitching. Who missed this guy?"

Big-league heckler: Affeldt pitched against Angels prospects in an extended-spring game in Tempe. The third-base coach was former Twins second baseman Denny Hocking, whom Affeldt faced in the majors. Affeldt said Hocking heckled him before Wednesday's outing, yelling in an empty park, "Let's get this guy!"

Giants on deck

Thursday

Off

Friday

vs. Dodgers

7:15 p.m. Channel: 11

Kershaw (3-2) vs.

Zito (3-1)

Saturdayvs. Dodgers

6:05 p.m. CSNBA

Lilly (0-1) vs.

Vogelsong (1-2)

Leading off

Big hit: Pablo Sandoval's 35 hits set a Giants modern-day record for April, though it must be noted that until 1969, the season started April 10 or later.